shown he does not pull his punches.

Judge Stephen Tumim has blasted Britain's prison system in a hard-hitting report.

He lashed cramped, dirty cells, with "ridiculous'' meal times.

Breakfast is often served at 8 a.m., followed by lunch at 11 a.m. and finally tea at 4 p.m., with nothing more to eat for 16 hours, he said.

And prisoners, regularly locked up for long periods day and night, have to eat their meals in cells containing lavatories, he added.

Judge Tumim also claimed illicit drug-taking and bullying remained serious problems.

Presenting his 1991-92 report, he said bullies often acted as enforcers of rackets involving drugs, money lending, and tobacco.

He said prison officers needed more extensive training in skills to help inmates, and improve job satisfaction and staff flexibility.

Judge Tumim added medical provision for prisoners, especially the mentally ill, continued to be poor, and he attacked overcrowding.

He said the number of prisoners should be based on nationally-agreed minimum standards for floor area, volume and window area per person, temperature, natural ventilation, lighting and noise levels.

This summer Judge Tumim, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales, turned his eye on Bermuda's justice system.

A draft copy of his report is already in the hands of Government, although its contents have not been released.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness recently disclosed the draft report contained some inaccuracies, which needed ironing out.

He has pledged the final report will be made public.